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Drew Bankston

The Eyes of Tokorel

Synopsis

Only a portion of Tokor's secrets have been discovered on Khizara. Now Linsora must go to the feared planet of Tokorel to discover the rest of Tokor's plan. How will Tokorellans receive this barbaric Khizaran and will she be able to control her emotions enough so as to not give away her alternate reason for being there?

Author Biography

Drew has been writing all of his life, or at least from the time he knew what words and stories could do. In second grade he was writing audio plays and now, many...many years later, he's still writing. He's written the Tokorel sci-fi series, which has received numerous accolades, great reviews and awards, and numerous other books both fantastic and original. He loves sci-fi and fantasy but he also writes non-fiction as well. He lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with his wonderful family and runs a video production company to pay the bills, in addition to working for the city Parks Department. He loves people, so feel free to Email him anytime if you have questions about his books or want to chat. He can be reached at author@drewbankston.com.

Author Insight

Traitor

In this segment, I wanted to show that even Linsora can become, strong as she is, flustered under the correct circumstances. Although she's on a planet that is not her home, she is still trying to maintain diplomacy and maintain her sense of justice. She trusts a man who has just been publicly declared a traitor to his world, and she announces this openly. How would she visualize these people? Read and please, enjoy!

Book Excerpt

The Eyes of Tokorel

All eyes turned toward Linsora. Everyone knew Harda had been the first to meet her and had spent some time in conference with her following her presentation of the books. During the first week she was on Tokorel, in fact, she had not been seen by anyone. Whispers in dark corners of many rooms had questioned what she and Harda had been up to.

“It’s not true,” Linsora said. “It can’t be. He...”

Talla was at her side, applying gentle pressure to her elbow, steering her toward the door. Linsora allowed herself to be maneuvered through the now silent room and the burning stares. She stopped at the door.

“I want you to know I had nothing to do with this, at least not purposefully. I trusted Harda yesterday and I trust him now.” Talla squeezed her arm. A declaration of loyalty to someone just accused of treason might not be wise. Linsora knew that. She also knew that Harda was not the traitor. Her sense of outrage clouded her very fragile sense of diplomacy. “Sense my emotions, all of you, if you’d like.”

She felt nothing, no prickling of testing minds, no wash of tastes. The assembled gathering of socially correct high brows stood like farm animals unaware of their impending slaughter. Mouths open, eyes wide at the gate open to freedom, choosing their comfortable certainty over whatever might lay beyond the confines of their comfort. Choosing to offer one of their own for sacrifice. Hoping that one would save them all. Not wanting to believe they would all suffer the same fate. All ready to trust whatever the authorities told them without question.